Just under 2,500 pounds of waste was removed from the coastline at the Catherine Hall beach during a clean-up exercise on Saturday morning.

The exercise, which comes as part of the Sumfest 2023 activities, is in its third year and provides an opportunity for a variety of stakeholders to join in with the entertainment company to clean the space.

Some 937 pounds of plastic and some 1,500 pounds of solid waste was removed through the efforts of more than 200 individuals who banded together to carry the mission.

The waste collected include a variety of items made from plastic, tires, old appliances, furniture and others that have either been washed down to the beach through a variety of channels or directly by the actions of individuals.

Joe Bogdonovich, chairman for Downsound Records, the organisers of the annual Sumfest event, called on individuals to be more responsible in how they treat with their garbage.

“Everybody can make difference individually and that’s just by paying attention, don’t throw garbage out, don’t throw plastic out in the street. Just take care of your house,” he told the Jamaica Observer during the clean-up on Saturday.

He however insisted that while they continue to do this work, he knows that things have improved and expects to be much better when they are fully established on the property.

“Once we are here full time, this is going to be a fantastic park,” he said.

Councillor Dwight Crawford (Jamaica Labour Party, Spring Garden Division) was also present for the clean-up and expressed his joy at the long term impact that the activity has been having on the space.

“I remember last year when we came here, the beach was in much worse condition than it is in this year which shows you as a result of the Sumfest intervention, it is making things better,” he remarked.

“What I am seeing here is a lot less of the man-made garbage and more of the natural kind, things that are more biodegradable,” he further added.

Also present on the day was the team from Western Parks and Markets (WPM), a division of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).

They were responsible for removing the bulky waste following the clean-up. For regional operations manager, Dramaine Jones, the news that things have improved is welcomed.

“It speaks well for the messaging we have been putting out but I would want to come out here and we don’t see anything,” he remarked.

During the day, the team from Caribbean Airlines came out on top collecting the most in terms of solid waste while Recycling Partners took home the top prize for collections as it relates to plastic waste.

Sumfest is slated to run from July 16-22 at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in Montego Bay, St James.